Ayurvedic Treatment for Shaken Baby Syndrome – Abusive Head Trauma (AHT)
Abstract
Also called “Shaken Impact Syndrome or Abusive Head Trauma (AHT)” is a form of brain injury caused due to violent shaking of a baby. Parent or caretaker of the baby in frustration or aggression shakes the baby vigorously due to which the brain of the baby bounces back and forth inside the skull receiving injuries like bruising, bleeding, inflammation, seizures, retinal bleeding and unconsciousness. Shaken baby syndrome causes mental disorders, ill development of some portion of brain, damage to brain or even may cause death of the baby in serious causes. Some symptoms can be seen immediately but some symptoms are seen in later stages like difficulty in coordination, seizures, weakness, spinal cord damage, milestone issues etc.
Introduction
Shaken baby syndrome is a form of child abuse. When a baby is shaken hard by the shoulders, arms, legs, it can cause damage to the brain resulting in learning issues, behaviour disorders, vision problems or blindness, hearing and speech issues, seizures, cerebral palsy, serious brain injury, and permanent disability. Vigorous shaking of the baby in anger can cause physical damage, can increase blood pressure due to which there may be a rupture of blood vessels and lack of oxygen to brain cells may lead to brain damage also there may be subdural hematoma, subarachnoid hematoma etc.
Causes
- Blunt trauma to head
- Vigorous shaking the baby
- or a combination of both.
Symptoms
- Bleeding, bruising or inflammation in brain
- Retinal bleeding
- Unconsciousness
- Seizures
- Breathing difficulties
- Extreme irritability
- Vomiting
- Pale or blue-coloured skin
- Permanent brain damage
- Vision problems
- Problems in motor controls
- Weakness
- Abnormal physical sensations or perceptions
- Neck and spinal cord damage
- Intellectual disability
- Delayed milestone achievement.
Diagnosis
- CT-SCAN – to view the cross sectional plans of the brain
- MRI (Magnetic radio imaging) – to view the detailed image of the brain.
- X-RAY – To rule out fractures
To rule out his condition there are 3 aspects to be checked normally
- Encephalopathy – inflammation of the brain
- Subdural or subarachnoid haemorrhage – any bleeding in between dura of brain or arachnoid spaces
- Retinal haemorrhage – bleeding in part of eye or retina
Comlications
Shaken baby syndrome can cause severe medical issues, including:
- Subdural Hematoma: Collection of blood in dural spaces of the brain i.e outside the brain tissue inside the skull.
- Subarachnoid haemorrhage: collection of blood between brain and arachnoid spaces (the web-like membrane around the brain).
- Direct brain trauma: This can occur when the head of the baby is struck by something resulting in the baby’s brain to strike against the inside of the skull and cause trauma.
- Brain damage: Brain damage can result in ischemia (lack of oxygen) if your child stops breathing during shaking.
- Retinal haemorrhages: Bleeding in the back of your child’s Retina
- Fractures- This may include skull fractures as well as fractures to your baby’s ribs, collarbone, arms and legs
Ayurvedic Overview of Shaken Baby Syndrome
There is no direct correlation in ayurveda to shaken baby syndrome but according to symptoms we can say that there will be vata vitiation (kinetic energy) mostly. In Ayurvedic aspects whenever there is trauma and loss of blood there will always be loss of vata also for sure. So when baby is shaken vigorously due to internal trauma there is rakta srava (blood loss) due to which there is decrease vatta dosha or there will be vitiation of vatta. Vitiation of vatta is somewhat different i.e in vitiation dosha can increase or decrease randomly or the working of that particular dosha is hampered. In this condition not only vatta imbalance will be there but also there will be involvement of pitta (thermal energy) and kapha (potential energy) to some extent.
This shaken baby syndrome is a kind of head trauma so can be kept under the cerebral injuries. According to the above context we can relate this syndrome with “Shiro-marma Abhighata” (cerebral injury). Acharya Charaka has mentioned “Trimarmas’ ‘ (3 vital points) i.e hridya (heart), shir (head), basti (urinary bladder). In Ayurvedic texts (Sushruta samhita) there are a total of 107 marmas but Achary charaka has pointed out 3 most important marmas and named trimarmas. Marmas can be understood as the joints of the channels through which Prana (life force flows). Injury to this Shiro marma due to external or internal factors is considered as Shiro-marma abhighata (can be understood as cerebral injury). Shiro marma abhighata is also one of the causes for the manifestation of pakshvadh (paralysis), sarvang vatta (paraplegia), ekangvaat (hemiplagia) etc. So we can say that in shaken baby syndrome also due to the injury to Shiro marma there is loss of rakta(blood) which leads to vitiation of vata.
Vitiation of vata leads to following symptoms
- Body tremors
- Disturbed involuntary movements
- Confusion
- Sudden changes in emotions
- Weakness
- delusions
- Delirium
- Insomnia
- Decreased physical abilities
- Hampered thinking
- Bad motor control
- Hearing difficulty
- Urine incontinence
- Headache
Ayurvedic Medication to Manage Vata Vitiation
Single Herbs
- Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
- Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri)
- Shyonak (Oroxylum indicum)
- Patla (Streptospermum salveolum)
- Gambhari (Gmelina arborea)
- Agnimanth (Premna mucronata)
- Prishniparni (Uraria picta) etc
- Bilva (Aegle marmelos)
- Brihati (Solanum indicum)
- Kantakari (Solanum viginianum)
Classical Ayurveda Formulations
- Brahmi ghrita
- Ashwagandha ghrita
- Rasna ghrita
- Purana ghrita
- Mahanarayana taila
- Til taila
- Nirgundi taila
- Eranda taila
- Triphala churna
- Anu tail
- Sahdbindu tail
- Karpasasthyadi taila
- Sahacharadi taila
- Dashmool kwath
- Yogendra ras
- Manas mitra vatakam
- Ekangveer ras
- Brihat vata chintamani ras
- Rasraj ras
Ayurvedic Panchakarma for Vatta Vitiation
- Snehan – internal and external oleation of the body. In Ayurveda oils are referred to as the best in management of initiated vatta dosha.
- Basti chikitsa – can be correlated with enema in modern times. In Ayurveda According To CHARAK ACHARYA basti is the half treatment for vatta vyadhi (diseases due to vatta)
- Nasya – specific medicated oils are put in nose treating the vatta vitiation efficiently
- Karnapoorana – putting vatta balancing medicated oils in ear.
- Shirodhara – best procedure to calm the mind
- Shiro abhyanga – head massage with therapeutic oils
Herbal Remedies for Shaken Baby Syndrome By Planet Ayurveda
Planet Ayurveda is a manufacturer of Ayurvedic medicines derived entirely from plants. This medicine does not contain chemicals, additives or preservatives. All products are GMP certified and 100% vegan. Planet Ayurveda provides various herbal remedies for Shaken baby syndrome out of which some are listed below
Product Description
1. Kumar Kalyan Ras
Kumar kalyan ras is a classical Ayurvedic medicine used in the treatment of diseases of children. This tablet contains more mineral ingredients like purified mercury, purified gandhak(sulphur), processed pearl ,gold bhasma, iron bhasma, aloe vera etc. these minerals with herbs helps in balancing pitta dosha (thermal energy). This formulation acts as a rejuvenator, balances pitta, promotes strength and vitality, and provides nourishment to the body.
Dosage– 1 tablet twice a day
2. Neuro Plan Syrup
Neuro Plan syrup is polyherbal that consists of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis), Pippali (Piper longum), Madhuyashti (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Maricha (piper nigrum)Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), and many more. It is an amazing syrup for neurological disorders. Brahmi strengthens mental power and memory. This herb is a blessing for brain health. Brahmi is also used in blood disorders. Shankhpushpi boosts your memory and it is an amazing herb for the brain and nervous system. Ashwagandha maintains the healthy functioning of the whole body. Pippali acts as a potent inhibitory neurotransmitter.
Dosage: 2 teaspoons twice daily.
3. Arvindasav
Arvindasava is a classical Ayurvedic product that consists of Kamal Phool (Nelumbium speciosum), Nelophar (Nymphaea stellata), Bahera (Terminalia belerica), Dhay Phool (Woodfordia fruticosa), Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna), Munakka (Vitis vinifera), and many more. Its effect is cool and its taste is sweet. It has anti-inflammatory and antipyretic action. It improves digestive disorders, strength and body weight. It is a tonic for all the childhood complaints such as constipation, diarrhoea, cough, etc. Arjuna acts as Stambhana, is helpful in bleeding disorders due to its homeostatic properties, heals wounds and fractures very quickly. Arjuna also removes the blockages in the body.
Dosage: 2 teaspoons twice daily
Conclusion
SBS (shaken baby syndrome) is not a natural condition. Mishandling of a baby or trauma results in this condition.Sbs is also called AHT(Abusive Head Trauma) which is a type of child abuse. In Ayurveda this condition can be correlated with Shiro marma abhigata which leads to vata vitiation. Thus it is treated according to vatta vyadhi chikitsa only. In this condition vata gets aggravated or vitiated which leads to degenerative changes in the brain which hampers the normal brain functions. Early treatment is necessary in this condition because delaying will lead to more complications. Also with time it gets harder to manage this condition and patients can suffer from epileptic seizures, loss of voluntary movements and other comorbidities and also death
